Bright Ideas

          Recently we had an addition to the KISC energy. We already have hydro power provided from the local lake, Oeschinensee. In addition, we have a wood burning furnace for our hot water needs, which is powered by wood from our very own property. Now we are looking up, to the sun that is!

During the summer, we had the Greenpeace Solar Workshop from the folks at Greenpeace Switzerland and Solafrica. They also provided us with a treat before they left. Freshly installed are 26 panels on the top of Kanderlodge.

As explained in an earlier Eco Blog about PV cells and how they work, the maximum output for the panels are 2.6kWp with direct sunlight.

The solar panels themselves even have a history. They were formally on the roof of the Greenpeace Switzerland office in Zurich for 17 years. Because the lifetime expectancy for the solar panels are over 30 years, we hope to harness the energy from the solar panels for another 15 or so years.

            For the total use of power used by KISC, it only removes a small amount of our electrical usage. However, since the Kanderlodge is our most modern accommodation (completed in 2007), it should significantly reduce the power usage for years to come.

The new solar panels are a part of the many ways KISC is trying to set a good example as a SCENEs centre, but also an example of good outdoor stewardship.

Tad Sigman (US)

Eco Assistant

PET Creations

With over 2000 guests at the high point of our summer season, our recycling center becomes very busy and this creates very full bins for many different recyclables. So I decided to do something creative out of the most common trash we have here at KISC, the PET bottle.

Candle Holder
 

The first really cool thing you can do with an empty PET bottle is a very nice table

decoration for your next BBQ. It's easy to do and it brings a holidays seaside feeling to your table.

You need :

• empty PET bottles
• candles
• sand

Just fill the bottles with normal sand or, for a more colourful table, with coloured sand. Add a

nice candle and you have a beautiful decoration.

Bird Feeder

If you want to do something that lasts longer and makes you some new animal friends you should build a bird feeder.

You need :

•  An empty PET bottle
• 2 old pencils
• Some Seeds (you can get them in a Pet Shop)
• A knife

Start with making four holes for the pencils. Insert the pencils. The birds can sit on the pencils later. Add a feeding hole over every pencil. Now fill in the seeds and close the PET bottle. Add a wire or string to hang it in a tree. The last step is to hang your bird feeder out in your garden and see your new friends eating. Enjoy!

For more cool ideas for PET recycling like the Facebook page of  "Proud PET Recycler''.

My Best,

 

Jessica (CH)

Summer 2014